\n<\/p>\n
Inspired by big gains in last week’s parliamentary elections, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is setting its sights on gaining control of a regional government for the first time in next year’s state elections.<\/p>\n
The party wants to win 45% of the electorate in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt and therefore be able to name the state’s premier or top leader, AfD state chairman Martin Reichardt said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The goal is to make Saxony-Anhalt, which is west of Berlin, the first German state to be led by an AfD government, he said at the opening of a state party conference in Magdeburg, the state capital.<\/p>\n
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency is monitoring the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt as a confirmed right-wing extremist group.<\/p>\n
“Saxony-Anhalt will become the blue beacon of Germany,” Reichardt said referring to the colour associated with the party.<\/p>\n
In last week’s national parliamentary election, the AfD was the top party in the state with 37.1% of the vote. Nationally it came in second but it will not be in the government because other parties have refused to work with it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n